News

Plan to knock down Stourbridge video store refused

A PLAN to bulldoze the last remaining movie rental store in Stourbridge has been refused by council planners.

GCL Video in Clifton Street and a lock-up garage at the back had been earmarked for demolition as part of a proposal to build a new four-bedroom detached home in the Old Quarter street.

Dudley Council planners, however, have thrown the scheme out - saying the two-storey development would be out of keeping with the surrounding area and would have a harmful impact on neighbours in terms of loss of light and outlook.

John Millar, director of the council’s urban environment department, said the plan also failed to address how the distinctive rendered residential building adjoining the shop would later appear, adding: “The building enjoys a significant amount of character, and the resulting works could cause undue visual harm.”